Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-02
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE DISTRICT JUDICIARY.
Full Text Of the Bill Providing for an
Additional Judge, etc, and Of the Let
ter of Commissioner Webb.


ter of Commissioner Webb.
The bill providing for an additional term OF the
Circuit Court of the Supreme Court Of the District
and for an additional justice, which was passed
by the House yesterday afternoon, is as follows:
Be ii enacted, &C., That an additional term OF
the Circuit Court of the Supreme Court OF the
District Of Columbia shall be held for which Juries
vided by law which said additional term shall
be vested with both civil and criminal jurisdiction,
ana shall sit during every month I'm the year, TOT
such part thereof as shall be necessary, except
the month of August to hear and determine, first,
all cases OF appeal from the Police Court ana,
thereafter, such other causes, whether from the
docket or the other Circuit or OF the CrlInlnli
Court, as the general term may assign to it Tor
President, by and with the consent OF the Senate,
one additional associate justice Of the Supreme
Court OF the District OF Columbia, which said adj
ditiOnal associate justice shall have the same
power, authority, and Jurisdiction as now or here
after may be exercised by any of the associate
justices of the said supreme Court, and shall be
same manner
Sec. 3. That in all causes heard and decided by
The supreme Court OF said District when sitting
In general terIn the justice rendering the decision
or the court therein shah do SO il writing, and
shail lille The written opinion OF the court In sucn
cause with the clerk OF said court to be kept as
part OF the record therein.
THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
About the only objection to the bill came from
Mir. Holman, who opposed it upon the general
ground that he was not In favor OF increasing the
number OF officials and did not think additional
Judge necessary. In reply to his objections MI.
Heinphlll said that when the population OF this
District was only 10000 Congress thought proper
to give them five judges; three OF them, OF course,
sitting IN the Supreme Court SO that they did not
try causes circuit. Since that time the popul-
ton has been trebled being now than 200 COO,
and yet there are only six judges. My friend from
Indiana or. Holman) has, OF course, general OBJ
TO Officials.
we all have some feeling OF that kind; but when
the business OF the District is steadily increasing,
when the population OF the District has increased
and Is still rapidly increasing, when in fact you
can make more by having an additional judge
than by not having him, then 1t is simply ques-
ton or common sense whether the people of this
District shall have judicial force adequate to the
proper and expeditions transaction Of business
and the proper administration OF justice. He said
that the litigation in the District was not confined
to the people in the District.
Mr. Holman said that districts Of great CONNER
ciai activity in his did have half the jul
dicial facilities OF the District though the District
had no manufacturing or commercial interests.
"f1iS District court" replied Mr.. Hemphil, has
Jurisdiction OF questions which are never heard OF
in the districts OF Indiana to which my friend re-
ferS. The general term OF this court has exclusive
jurisdiction OF all appeals from the commissioner
OF patents, and exclusive original jurisdiction OF
all mandamuS and other extraordinary proceed
ingS affecting the various heads or departments Of
the general government. Those are questions
which take up much more time than questions
arising from manufacturing interests would do"
COMMISSIONERS wEBB'S LETTER.
Following Is the full text OF the letter addressed
by Commissioner Webb to the chairman OF the
House District committee:
''While the Commissioners think this is a matter
belonging more particularly, il HOt exclusively.
TO the consideration Oi the Judicial authorities Of
the District, they are so much interested in mat
tiers relating to the courts particularly SO far IS
munic1pdi affairs are affected by he proceedings
or these tribunals, that they feel 1t is in way
anii,o to give The committee their views concern
ing the provisions or the bill.
The bill provides ameanS by which appeals from
the Police Court can be heard speedily, and Is in
every way eminently proper, ana ii enacted VIII
remove long and seriOusy felt defect i'll our jul
dicial system For years T. has been felt that the
delay and uncertainty attending the hearing or
appeals from the Police Court was one OF the
greatest, il not the very greatest, OBSTACLE In the
way OF tue proper and efficient execution OF The
laws provided Tor the promotion OF order and the
punishment OF ofenSeS against the local laws and
ordinances OF the community. Much OF this de-
lay is due TO the tact chat as the courts are at
present constituted these appeals are directly
from the Police court 10 the special term OF the
supreme Court for criminal business, this latter
court being unable, by means OF The pressure OF
other ana more important business. to hear
such appeals with any certainty or prompt
nt,o. Ali OF The criminal business Of
this District. except that which Is purely
distinguished from purely criminal business, goes
TO the special term OF The Supreme Court OF the
District OF Columbia, and SO many and so import
ant the heard by that court that its CAL
endar is always crowded with cases requiring
early consideration. So much is this the case, and
80 unavoidable are these delays. that it is safe to
estimate at least twelve months for tie hearing OF
an appeal from the Police Court under the present
condition OF Affairs. No other or further argyll
Ment can be needed to show the necessity for a
change III TINS condition OF affairs. Prompt and
certain punishment Is What is needed TO enforce
the observance OF local ordinances, and, every
offender will seek delay, ii he can obtain 1t, ap-
peas from the Police Court are taken in almost
every case brought before it, with tine result above
alluded to.
things and prove great assistance to the local
government and Blessing 10 the people Of the
District. Its passage is most respectfully and
earnestly urged"
After His Patients.
A COLoRED DOCTOR WHO SEEKS THE PROTECTION OF
THE LAW.
Some days ago an aged cOlored man who travels
under the name OF DR.. johnson appeared in the
clerks Office in the Police Court and introduced
himself TO the clerk as cdr. Johnsing." He wanted
warrant for a cOlored man on q charge Of steal
ing bottle Of medicine. He claimed to have had
business transaction with the man for whom he
wanted the warrant, and that the latter had
destroyed bottle OF his medicine. The warrant
was refused. subsequently warrant was sworn
out by the doctor charging John Jones with
assault and battery. Yesterday morning before
Judge Smell Jones was arraigned and pleaded mot
guilty.. Doctor Johnson or 'Johnsing," as he calls
himself, appeared on the witness stand with rib
bOns OF different colors sewed on his coat.
'What Is your nalne?" inquired the prosecuting
attorney.
johnson replied witness.
"Do you know the defendant?"
"NO."
'sDid you ever see him befOre?"
Use seen him oftener than wanted to see him. !"
''Did he strike your
SHE did more than that; ne pushed me-"
'Did you do anything to him2"
''No. He grabbed me just as quick as could see
you, and before could do anything he came near
shaking me to pieces
The prisoner said he gave the doctor ten cents
to get him bottle OF medicine and he failed to
get the medicine. DEPENDENT spoke to him about
1t and they quarreled.
The case was dismissed.
Working Among Criminals.
MRS. BARNEY TELLS OF SOME OF Her EXPERIENCES
IN PRISONS.
The meetings under the auspices of the Woman's
Christian Temperance union were continued last
night, when Mrs. j. X. Barney, superintendent.of
prison and Jail work, delivered an address at
Foundry church on the work in her department.
She gave certificates to show that large proper
ton OF criminals in prisons and jails brought
there by liquor. In the Kentucky penitentiary,
she said, where woman's voice had never be-
fore been heard In behalf Of the wretched in